Abstract

PurposeThe infraorbital foramen (IOF) is an important structure in the maxillofacial region through which important structures pass. Wide variability in the shape and location of the infraorbital foramen among different populations and ethnic groups is present. So we conducted this study to specify the IOF shape, the presence of accessory foramina, and the IOF location with respect to anatomic landmarks in the Lebanese population.Patients and methodA cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 105 Lebanese adult patients. Images were reviewed and the shape, diameter, and location of the IOF were recorded. The presence of an accessory foramen was also noted. Then, SPSS version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US) was used for the statistical analysis.ResultsConcerning the distances from the IOF to the anatomic landmarks, the distance from the IOF to the infraorbital margin measured 7.98 ± 1.41 mm, to the lateral nasal wall 10.61 ± 2.39 mm, and to the midline 24.71 ± 2.09 mm. When distances were compared, a statistical difference was only identified in the distance between the IOF and the lateral nasal wall (p=0.00), and the distance between the IOF and the middle of the face (p=0.016) between genders. For the shape of the IOF, 54.8% of the IOF were circular in shape, and this shape was the most common shape in females. An accessory foramen was present in 8.6% of the cases. Finally, the mean diameter of the foramina measured 3.71 ± 0.63 mm.ConclusionThe IOF shows a lot of variability between different populations. Thus, the exact location should always be remembered during an infraorbital nerve (ION) block, during maxillofacial surgeries, and during esthetic procedures involving the facial region in order to prevent unnecessary complications.

Highlights

  • The infraorbital foramen (IOF) is present on the maxillary bone

  • Our study reviewed the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images from a single referral center in Beirut and the sample was a small one with the need for a larger sample in future studies to define the characteristics of the IOF in the Lebanese population

  • The IOF is an anatomical foramen in the head and neck region

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Summary

Introduction

The infraorbital nerve is an essential facial sensory nerve It originates from the trigeminal ganglion, passes through the facial skeleton, and exits through the infraorbital foramen [1]. An infraorbital nerve (ION) block is a procedure performed in anesthesia during maxillofacial surgeries, in the management of postoperative pain, and in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia [3,4,5]. This nerve is important in various surgeries, such as rhinoplasty, facial tumor surgeries, orbital floor fractures, Le Fort I fractures, malar fractures, and malar and facial implant placement [6,7]. It is worth noting that the presence of an accessory infraorbital foramen adds to the complexity of this area and should be remembered by anesthesiologists and maxillofacial surgeons [8]

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